The Big 12 is represented by No. 12 West Virginia and No. 17 Texas Tech in the NSCAA/Continental Tire Preseason Rankings, announced Wednesday.

Two-time reigning Big 12 regular season champion West Virginia enters the season ranked No. 12 after compiling a 16-4-3 overall record last season, including a 7-1 mark in Big 12 play. The Mountaineers' 2013 season ended in a 1-0 loss to fourth-ranked Virginia Tech in the second round of NCAA competition. West Virginia checked in at No. 12 in the final poll released by the NSCAA last season.

Texas Tech sits at No. 17 on the preseason poll. The Red Raiders return 20 letterwinners and seven starters to a squad that finished 2013 with an 18-2-3 mark including a 6-0-2 record in Big 12 regular season play. Texas Tech also advanced to the second round of NCAA postseason action where it fell to Texas A&M 4-3 in a shootout loss.

Along with the preseason rankings, the NSCAA also revealed its 2014 MAC Hermann Trophy watch list, which included three Big 12 student-athletes. Janine Beckie (Texas Tech), Jalene Hinkle (Texas Tech) and Kedisha Buchanan (West Virginia) were all tabbed as players to watch.

The MAC Hermann Trophy is given annually to the nation’s top male and female in NCAA soccer. The winners of the prestigious award will be announced Friday, Jan. 9, 2015 at the trophy presentation banquet at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.